$4 NLHE 6-max: Turned straight vs. showing strength

$4 NL HE 6-max: Turned straight vs. showing strength

pokerstars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP ($8.97)
CO ($4.03)
Button ($1.52)
Hero (SB) ($4.86)
BB ($2.60)
UTG ($0.59)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 9 , 7
UTG calls $0.02, MP calls $0.02, 1 fold, Button calls $0.02, Hero calls $0.01, BB checks

Flop: ($0.10) 6 , 10 , Q (5 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, UTG checks, MP checks, Button checks

Turn: ($0.10) 8 (5 players)
Hero checks, BB bets $0.02, 1 fold, MP calls $0.02, 1 fold, Hero raises to $0.10, BB raises to $0.18, 1 fold, Hero raises to $0.50, BB raises to $0.92, Hero ???


I don't think there's anything wrong with completing here with 9:1 but if I'm wrong let me know. Obvious check on the flop, I think. The turn is where it gets interesting.

Now, I don't know what to think about the BB's min bet, but I decided to raise to get some money into the pot. I figure if either BB or MP has a flush draw I'll make them pay for it and make this worth paying for. Then the BB min-re-raises. As far as my experience has told me, a min-raise is an almost universal sign of a strong hand at micro limits. MP folds. I don't think a flush draw is gonna raise here unless maybe it's Q♠10♠ and he was trying to CR the flop. Also note, I don't have a good read on BB at this point, less than 10 hands.

I 4-bet there because the only hand that beats me is J9, and he could have a set, maybe 88. That min-re-raise is always a strong hand, but since only one hand beats me, I don't want to give anything a chance to catch up. When he raises, almost minimum, I feel like I'm definitely beat. But can I really fold here? Do I ship it? Do I call and see what happens on the river?

All in. He might have a set.

If the river is a 3rd spade or pairs the board, being OOP you'll be in a tough situation. Just get it all in with the 2nd nuts.

If he has J9, he has J9.

Looks good, now ship all the money in. You can also consider betting the flop.

I called and check-called all-in on the river, and he unfortunately showed J9. Bad luck I guess.

But what would be the rational behind betting the flop into 4 people here?

Sohmurr said:

But what would be the rational behind betting the flop into 4 people here?

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You'd be surprised how often players will fold in a limped pot. Usually, they're limping with bad hands that don't make much very often, and this board isn't very drawy. Often you can simply fire out $0.06 here, and get a decent number of folds.

In hindsight, 4 players is probably too many, and checking along is the best line. But I played a hand today at 2NL in a similar spot...

Feral Cow Poker Hand Converter
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em $0.01/$0.02 - 5 players

UTG: $2.00
CO: $3.49
Button: $3.38
SB: $2.40
BB: $5.26 (Hero)

Preflop: ($0.03) Hero is BB with 3♥ 8♠ (5 players)
UTG folds, CO calls $0.02, Button folds, SB calls $0.01, Hero checks

Flop: ($0.06) 2♠ 8♣ J♣ (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $0.04, 2 folds

There's usually so little in the pot, and your opponent's hands suck, that if you have anything decent to semi-bluff with, you can take a stab at the pot. Not saying its best to bet the flop in this case, but it is an alternate line you should consider.

Sohmurr said:

I called and check-called all-in on the river, and he unfortunately showed J9. Bad luck I guess. But what would be the rational behind betting the flop into 4 people here?

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You’re not going to fold the 2nd nuts anyway. You ended up putting it all in anyhow, so it might as well be on the turn. The only way just calling there would have helped you is if a scary card hits on the river, and you could have check/called or you raise and he calls. You could easily have been ahead. It’s just one of those hands.

4 hand flop, being first to act, I wouldn’t lead out with only a gutshot draw.

It’s a lot different than acting 2nd in a 3 way. You just need to fold the guy behind u to get position on subsequent streets.

this is always a shove. not only do you have the 2nd nuts but you have a blocker to the 1st nuts.
Sometimes you lose. NH.
btw completing SB is generally just burning money, but its a bit irrelevant still at 2NL.

hero goes all in. don't be afraid to get it all in especially at these micro stakes, when you are afraid you start losing money.